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Ian Stone on his current tour show, Keeping It Together
Ian Stone has been on tour with his latest show, Ian Stone Is Keeping It Together, since September, having already spent most of August performing it at Edinburgh. So we suspect he is now getting a little tired! Lesser mortals might be struggling by this stage, but when you call your show Keeping It Together, well, you can’t let the cracks show can you!
As he heads into the final leg of the tour, Ian found a little time to chat with us about the show and tell us why he would invite the entire Arsenal squad along if he could.
Ian Stone is Keeping It Together is on tour until 29 November. Toud dates can be found here. You can read our 4-star review of the show here.
Great to meet you Ian, so what’s the new show all about then?
Back in the spring, when I was thinking about taking the show to Edinburgh, I’d have said it would be a political show. But then Rishi Sunak called an election, mainly to make things difficult for me I believe, and I was forced to change plans. So now the show is more personal. But there’s still plenty of irritation towards the current state of the world
What was your initial inspiration then?
The inspiration behind any show I do is to keep writing new stuff so that I remain vaguely relevant and I don’t have to get a proper job.
How long have you been working on this?
In terms of the actual show, around six months but the truth is, I’ve been honing my comic persona since I was three.
Has the touring version changed drastically since you first put pen to paper?
I’ve added about thirty minutes to the show I took to Edinburgh so it’s about a third longer than it was. Is that drastic? Drastic sounds a bit panicky. I’d prefer ‘substantial but well thought through’.
How do you think the show’s message will resonate with current societal issues?
Well, it’s about current societal issues so I’d hope it would resonate. The stuff about Britain’s failed attempt to subdue the Sudanese rebels and avenge General Gordon’s murder in Khartoum felt a little dated so I’m no longer doing it.
What kind of emotional or intellectual impact do you aim to leave on your audience?
I want them to laugh. That’s it.
What are the most important lessons you’ve learned from preparing for and performing a show?
That stuff that goes well when I’m talking to myself in my kitchen doesn’t always translate to going well in front of an audience
Who would play you in the Hollywood adaptation of your life story?
Tom Cruise or George Clooney. They’re the only ones who can really capture the reality of growing up as a Jewish boy in North West London
If your show had a soundtrack, what songs would definitely be on it?
As part of the show is about growing up, I’d use songs by the Jam to convey a gritty urban feel to the proceedings. For the more topical stuff, anything by Radiohead. Particularly the miserable stuff.
If you could perform this show anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Russia. I think my comedy could persuade the Russians to move away from their militaristic thinking and into something more holistic. If not there, a six month residency in a beachfront theatre in the Bahamas
If you could have any special guest (living or dead) attend your show, who would it be?
I’d like the entire Arsenal first team squad and coaching staff to attend the show. Just so I could tell them how much I love the way they’ve been playing this season. They don’t even have to stay to be honest.
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